Liberate - Legal Practice Management Software
Liberate supports ALL aspects of Legal Practice Management Software system, providing full Client Management, Practice Diary and Relationship Marketing functionality, together with a comprehensive legal accounting system.
The accounting system incorporates a full ledger set (with separate Counsel fees ledger), full credit control and aged debtor reporting. Automated time recording and billing procedures (including Criminal Billing functionality) are also included within the base system.
Liberate Practice Management Software fully integrates front office (fee earners) and back office (accounts and administration) functions, embracing client and office accounting, time recording, diaries, spreadsheets, word processing, marketing and litigation procedure support.
Modularized, database structured and web enabled, Liberate uses the latest graphical user interface technology to ensure consistency of function across modules reducing learning time and simplifying efficient use.
Liberate Practice Management Software complies with the Law Society's Solicitors Accounts Rules and is an effective basis for Legal Aid Franchising and Criminal Defence Service requirements.
Major Functions
* Fee earner Support ..workflow,
..diary and time recording
* Accounts Support
..client nominal and purchase ledger
..management accounts
..automated Bank Reconciliation
..automated billing
* Document Support
..word processing
..spreadsheet integration
* Database Support
..client mailing
..strongroom registry
See our Legal Practice Management System brochure for more on this highly acclaimed product.
Fully functional legal accounting system
The Practice Management functionality of Liberate supports ALL aspects of financial practice management and has all the capabilities expected in a modern and comprehensive legal accounting software system. A full ledger set with aged debt, forecasting and budgeting capability is incorporated. Seamless integration to leading office productivity tools such as Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel are delivered as part of the Liberate core product.
Practice Management includes: -
• Client Ledger, Nominal Ledger, Purchase and Counsel Ledger
• Fee Earner Desktop
• Time Recording and Automated Billing
• Money Laundering and Conflict Checking (3 levels)
• Automated Bank Reconciliation
• Credit Control system
• Management Reporting and Enquiries
• Plain English Language Report Generator
PLUS
• Centralised Client Record (single database)
• Ability to set disbursement, fee and WIP limits
• Multiple client, office and deposit accounts
• Budget analysis with variance reporting
• Mouse or Keyboard navigation
• Open Period Accounting
• Retrospective Reporting
• Daily Audit Trail of ALL transactions
• Multiple VAT categories - auto-produced VAT return
• Euro ready
• Client Interest Calculator
Liberate Practice Management meets with the Law Society Solicitors Account and Franchise Rules, Deposit Interest Rules and is Criminal Defence Service (CDS) compliant.
• Automatic Forms Production - CDS6, CDS7, CDS9, CDS11
• UFN generation including lead UFN
• Pre-populated database of key fields
• Supervision and File Review system
• Case Budget/Limit monitoring
• LAFQAS 2001 compliant
Time Recording
Users of Liberate's practice management record their time (billable or non-billable) using a variety of methods. Time details input can then be analysed in a number of ways and at a number of levels. Performance reports are available.
• Chargeable time
• by fee earner, matter type, department
• Billed time
• by fee earner, matter type, department
• Unproductive or Non-chargeable time
• by fee earner, matter type, department
The system maintains a library of current LSC rates and a user-definable table of "custom" charges. Specific rates can be applied according to fee earner, client or matter type.
Time Recording features:
• On-Screen timesheet entry
• variable length time recording units
• standard time charges per document
• multiple Billing Rate per fee earner
• Clock based Time Recording
• up to 5 active clocks
• Timesheet monitoring
• missing timesheet notification
• Auto time revaluation
• especially useful for LSC work
Nominal Ledger
The Nominal ledger produces Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet and Trial Balance reports by cost centre, branch or practice. With full accrual, pre-payments and reserve postings plus traditional nominal ledger journal posting facilities, the software allows practices to accurately manage their accounts at all levels. Budget variance reports over any period up to two full accounting years are incorporated.
Purchase/Counsel Ledger
The Purchase/Counsel ledger provides efficient management of purchasing and cash flow. Reporting is extensive and flexible with the storage of useful information on past supplier histories.
A direct relationship to Client and Matter ledgers allows accurate recording of all incurred but unpaid invoices including Counsel Fee notes.
Credit Control
Client and matter based, this flexible system takes into account all outstanding matter balances for the client when producing letters, statements, memos or e-mails.
Accounts are aged from the transaction date of the bill providing a very accurate debt profile. The user can pre-define procedures or flow-paths pertinent to each specific client enabling a "personalised" service approach.
• Chase outstanding invoices via transaction date
for quicker debt recovery
• Facility to put clients on stop/hold/suspense
for better risk management
• Set-up and monitor instalment payment plans
for flexible and accurate debt recovery
• Bill Posting and Bill Book programs
for accurate mailing to specific billing address
• User definable letter and statement writer
for personalised client service
• Credit limit exceeded - warning or stop messages
for better financial control
Reporting
A wide range of standard reports is complemented by the addition of an in-built full function report generator. Using English language queries practice staff create reports that match their exact individual requirements. Reports are stored for later re-use and may be printed or e-mailed according to a pre-defined reporting schedule. Report data can also be exported to external data management products such as Excel.
• Over 140 standard reports
• Retrospective reporting
• Report Auto-Scheduler and Report Library
• Secure and controlled data access
Fee Earner Desktop
The Liberate Fee Earner Desktop software is an easy to use support system designed to maximise billings and reduce costs.
• Client & Matter Enquiries
• Client & Matter Maintenance
• On-screen Time Recording
• On-Line Cheque Requisition
• Automated Billing with Billing Wizard
• Conflict of Interest Search (3 levels)
• Full "drill-down" on all financial data
• Printing from all screens.
Download our document on Liberates practice management system.
Features
Recognising the differing needs of accounts staff and fee earners Liberate supports all aspects of Practice Management, providing full Client Management, Practice Diary, Time Recording and Relationship Marketing functionality, together with a comprehensive legal Accounting System. It is an ideal choice for practices wishing to link ‘back office’ and ‘front office’ functions to improve operational efficiency. Seamless integration to Microsoft Outlook, Word & Excel is standard.
Liberate Practice Management includes:
• Client Ledger Nominal, Purchase & Counsel Ledgers
• Fee Earner Desktop & full Credit Control system with Time Recording & Automated Billing
• Money laundering & Conflict Checking – 3 levels & Automated Bank Reconciliation
• Management Accounts, Reporting and Enquiries
• Plain English Language Report Generator & Retrospective reporting
• Centralised Client Record – single database
• Flexible disbursement, fee and WIP limits & Open period accounting
• Multiple client, office & deposit accounts
• Budget analysis with variance reporting
• Daily audit trail on all transactions
• Multiple VAT categories – automatic VAT returns
• Client mailing & strongroom registry
Complies with the Law Society's Solicitors Account, Deposit Interest & Franchise Rules and is Criminal Defence Service compliant.
For Users of Linetime's Legal Practice Management Software System visit The Institute of Legal Cashiers and Administrators who offer training courses covering Solicitors Accounts Rules, accounting for legal aid and much more.
Legal Support Network is an innovative community website that brings together professionals working in Law Firm's. The website is dedicated to providing an online resource for professionals in Law Firm Management involved in the Financial, Systems Management & Legal Costs areas within Law.
Some of the comments from Linetime's customers:
“An excellent all-rounder” and “favourite system” are just two of the comments from the Law Society Software Solutions Guide panel.
"Liberate is the industry's foremost accounting system and also has the most felxiable management reporting I have ever seen." Partnership Secretary, Hay & Kilner SolicitorsW
"The user-friendliness and adaptability of Liberate is second to none". Partnership Secretary, Sharpe Pritchard
". . . the best and most comprehensive legal software on the market, from a highly professional outfit providing excellent software support." Partner, Rogers & Norton Solicitors